It is the third largest party in the United States in terms of the popular vote in the country's elections and number of candidates run per election, and it is also identified by many as the fastest growing political party in the United States.

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The political ideas of the Libertarian Party reflect the ideas of libertarianism: supporting less regulated markets, a less powerful state, strong civil liberties (favoring same-sex marriage and other LGBT rights),[6] the legalization of cannabis,[7] separation of church and state, open immigration, neutrality in diplomatic issues, staying out of other countries' wars,[8] freedom of trade and travel to all foreign countries, and a better democracy. They also support more lenient gun laws.[9]

The Libertarian Party has also supported the United States' exit from the United Nations and other organizations. Although there is not a "left" or "right" wing label to the party, it is considered by many to be more left-wing than the Republican Party but more right-wing than the Democratic Party. Many members say they are more socially liberal than the Democrats, but more conservative with money than the Republicans.

As of March 2016, there are over 410,000[10] voters registered as Libertarians. Hundreds of Libertarian candidates have been elected or appointed to public office, and thousands have run for office under the Libertarian banner.

↑Rothbard, Murray Newton (1978). For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto. p. 153. Even more remarkably, the Libertarian party achieved this growth while consistently adhering to a new ideological creed—"libertarianism"—thus bringing to the American political scene for the first time in a century a party interested in principle rather than in merely gaining jobs and money at the public trough.